Fresh Start Banking
Fresh Start Banking
Mentorship Program
powered by Element Federal Credit Union
December 3, 2024
Giving Tuesday is a global day of generosity, an opportunity to help build stronger, more inclusive communities. On this giving day, we humbly ask you to join us in making a difference in the lives of justice-involved individuals.
Together, we can help people create a stronger financial future for themselves and their families. Thank you for being a champion of second chances. 💙
Our Programs
Your generosity helps First Step Alliance fulfill its mission by supporting our Fresh Start Financial Education, Banking, and Entrepreneurship programs, which help people create a path to financial stability and economic empowerment.
Partnerships with community organizations and government agencies have made it possible for hundreds of justice-involved individuals to enroll in our programs. This year also marked the launch of Fresh Start Entrepreneurship, with two cohorts held in the spring and fall. Our collaborations with organizations like Harvard Law School, SCORE, and the Mayor's Office of Returning Citizens in Boston help returning citizen entrepreneurs turn their business ideas into reality.
Wayne Lane, a Fresh Start program graduate, shared his journey:
“Dreaming after incarceration can be difficult. The Fresh Start program helped me out in ways you couldn't imagine. My vision widened, and I decided I wanted to open a CDL driving school. Fresh Start helped me put that business plan into action.”
Stories like Wayne’s exemplify the transformative power of your support.
Looking ahead, we are committed to expanding our community partnerships and reaching many more people. Our programs will soon be available to incarcerated individuals as well. We will also continue our efforts to start a new credit union for justice-involved individuals. If you are interested in becoming a future member, please complete our Community Membership Survey here.
Advocacy & Thought Leadership
We further increased our impact through advocacy initiatives, participation on panels, and publishing articles on key reentry topics, including:
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Our organization's work has been featured in several prominent publications, including the Wall Street Journal, American Banker, Business Insider, and Credit Union Times, and most recently, in Harvard Law Today's article From Incarceration to Entrepreneurship. ​
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Earlier this year, we had the privilege of leading a panel discussion on ‘Impactful Partnerships Serving the Justice-Involved Community’ at the Inclusiv Annual Conference, hosted by the New York-based CDFI. Following the event, we formed a coalition of credit unions to bring credit unions together to improve access to affordable financial services on a broader scale.​
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With Thanks
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to our board, officers, advisory council members, interns, and other volunteers, whose dedication and expertise are the foundation of our continued success.
Please join us in supporting financial inclusion and successful reentry for justice-involved individuals. Your donation, no matter the amount, helps us fulfill our mission and make our programs available to many more community members.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!
